Dunlop dominates TT
Dunlop-shod lap records:
- On four wheels (Subaru, Mark Higgins) : 117.510 mph
- TT Zero (John McGuinness): 117.366 mph
- Overall lap Record (Bruce Anstey) : 132.298 mph
- Fastest newcomer (Peter Hickman): 129.104 mph
- Lap record for the Senior TT (Michael Dunlop): 131.668 mph
It has been a week full of wins, podiums and lap records for the Isle of Man TT’s Official Tyre Partner. Riders and (drivers) shod with the Dunlop tyres have smashed five lap records during race week as well as claimed five out of a possible six wins.
Ballymoney-born rider, Michael Dunlop has undeniably been one of the most talked about riders in road racing this year as he announced his retirement from road racing before sensationally returning with an expert team of BMW engineers on his side.
In a shock turnaround during qualifying week, Michael Dunlop chose to switch from the competitor product that he had shod his BMW with at the Northwest 200 and returned to Dunlop tyres. The BMW and Dunlop combination certainly didn’t disappoint and boosted his Isle of Man TT race wins to 11.
While TT legend, John McGuinness battled with his wrist injury throughout the week, he sensationally claimed his 21stTT win in the TT Zero Challenge and broke the lap record along the way.
Bruce Anstey who ensured that there were yet more Dunlop caps on the podium in the Supersport, Superstock and TT Zero classes as well as being the only man to break the 132 mph barrier on the iconic Mountain Course.
Newcomer Peter Hickman, not only took 11th place in the Senior TT, but also set the fastest ever lap by a first timer at the Mountain Course with a stunning lap of 129.104mph.
And there wasn’t just success on two-wheels. Dunlop teamed up with Subaru in their World Record attempt to fit the car with road-legal Direzza tyres. Former World Rally Champion Mark Higgins smashed his own previous record on four wheels in the 2015 Subaru WRXI.
“We’ve had a fantastic year at this year’s TT”, said Mark Sears Dunlop’s Motorcycle Product Support Manager, “There is nothing like the atmosphere in the winners enclosure on Senior TT- It’s got an end of term feeling and the day was topped off for us by Dunlop riders taking the top two podium places.”
“There is no bigger testament to Dunlop’s Race to Road programme than this event and by breaking so many lap records. The Isle of Man is one of the most challenging motorcycle races in the motorsport calendar, there are no gravel traps or run offs like circuit racing - just houses and walls surrounding the riders.
“Racing in the TT plays a particularly important role in developing tyres for the road. As an open competition between tyre manufacturers it further enhances Dunlop’s relentless drive to innovate and develop new technologies to heighten product performance. These developments then cascade to Dunlop’s commercially available tyres, allowing us to take a superior product to market that is rich with motorsport technology.
It’s safe to say that we’re delighted with the success of the 2014 Isle of Man TT and can’t wait until next year!”
